Sustainable Through Second-life Use

Excerpt

The transition from internal combustion engines to electromobility poses significant technical and financial challenges for the industry. At the same time, competition is also intensifying; long-established manufacturers are coming up against new and aggressive players, particularly from China and the USA. The situation is tense and can mean that a clear view of future challenges may be difficult at present. This observation prompted Circunomics to found their start-up following a market analysis in 2019. The question of what to do with millions of batteries from electric cars, trucks or ships that no longer meet first-life operational requirements arose. How do companies deal with modules and cells that end up as production waste? A few important numbers illustrate the urgency of finding a solution: In 2030, there will be between 200 and 300 million electric vehicles on the roads worldwide. This means that five to six million vehicles that have reached the end of life will be scrapped each year. What applies to worn-out car bodies, chassis, and seat upholstery does not in the same way apply for used batteries. Before being sent to recycling, batteries are capable of top performance for additional years in second-life applications, a less strenuous environment. In addition to the positive ecological aspects and the contribution to reducing the need for additional rare raw materials, the cost benefits for companies are clear. The high costs of new batteries, by far the most expensive component of an electric vehicle, can be offset over the life cycle by income from second use and recycling. We have determined that an average-sized car manufacturer would be giving away approximately 1 billion euros every year, from 2030 onwards, if it were to forego this seamless value creation. Circunomics offers qualified B2B sellers and buyers of used battery packs, modules, and cells a battery lifecycle management solution. This includes a pure trading platform as well as an analytics tool that leverages unique, AI-supported software. Circunomics analytics enable an individual analysis of the state of health of the used battery as well as a simulation of its future use in second life. In 2023, the start-up's first operational fiscal year, 279 MWh of storage capacity were traded. In 2026, the goal is to reach 3 GWh, firmly establishing ourselves as the largest digital marketplace within the circular economy. Our desire is to make individual mobility more sustainable and affordable from a holistic perspective. …